Galectin-3 has been suggested relative to tumor genesis, progression, and metastasis in basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma that are the most common skin cancers characterized by malignant epidermal proliferation. In this study, we evaluated galectin-3 expression in seborrheic keratosis, keratoacanthoma, and infectious diseases including verruca vulgaris, condyloma acuminatum, and chromoblastomycosis that are pathologically featured by benign epidermal proliferation. Galectin-3 expression was shown by immunohistochemical staining and quantified using the Image Pro Plus V6...

BACKGROUND: Seborrheic keratosis (SK) is the most common benign epidermal tumor of the skin. Even though SK has been well characterized clinically, dermoscopically, and histopathologically, data regarding clinical dermoscopic and histopathological correlation of different types of SK are inadequate. AIM: We carried out this study to establish any correlation between the clinical, dermoscopic, and histopathological appearance of SK and its variants. METHODS: This was a descriptive study...

BACKGROUND: Acantholytic squamous cell carcinoma (aSCC) is regarded as a high-risk variant of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Acantholytic actinic keratosis (aAK) has been regarded as a precursor risk factor for aSCC. However, supporting evidence is limited. OBJECTIVE: We sought to document clinical features, histologic features, management, and outcomes in a series of aSCC cases. METHODS: Definitions of aSCC, aAK, and aSCC arising in association with aAK were applied to a consecutive series of aSCC cases...

In this article, we report a 33-year-old female patient with lesions of bilateral external auditory canals who was treated using fiber CO2 laser without canaloplasty. Histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of irritated type seborrheic keratosis, which is rare in external auditory canal. Twelve months after the treatment, the patient showed no signs of recurrence.

BACKGROUND: Actinic keratosis is a precursor to cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. Long treatment durations and severe side effects have limited the efficacy of current actinic keratosis treatments. Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) is an epithelium-derived cytokine that induces a robust antitumor immunity in barrier-defective skin. Here, we investigated the efficacy of calcipotriol, a topical TSLP inducer, in combination with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) as an immunotherapy for actinic keratosis...

Pigmented Bowen's disease (pBD) is an uncommon in situ squamous cell carcinoma of the skin usually presenting as a dark scaly plaque involving chronically exposed sites, which is not uncommonly mistaken for other similar pigmented lesions, such as melanoma, pigmented basal cell carcinoma or seborrheic keratosis [1,2]. Dermoscopy has been proven to improve its diagnosis by showing several findings, i.e., gray/brownish dots in linear arrangement, scales, coiled vessels, focal/multifocal amorphous hypopigmentation and bluish structureless areas [1,2]...

Efforts have been expended to evaluate the reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) features of different clinical entities in order to more thoroughly delineate benign versus malignant features. In this way, RCM can help clinicians to be more selective in regard to undertaking appropriate skin biopsies and improving their benign to malignant ratio. Herein, we report a case of a histopathologically proven melanoacanthoma, a variant of seborrheic keratosis. There are scarce reports describing the RCM features of melanoacanthoma...

BACKGROUND: Benign lichenoid keratosis (BLK, LPLK) is often misdiagnosed clinically as superficial basal-cell carcinoma (BCC), especially when occurring on the trunk. However, BCCs undergoing regression may be associated with a lichenoid interface dermatitis that may be misinterpreted as BLK in histopathologic sections. METHODS: In order to assess the frequency of remnants of BCC in lesions interpreted as BLK, we performed step sections on 100 lesions from the trunk of male patients that had been diagnosed as BLK...

BACKGROUND: Skin microtopography as a measure of photoaging is a non-invasive approach to measuring chronic ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposure, and reflects the degree of dermal elastosis in populations of European descent in the subtropics. Less is known about the utility of this approach in populations at different latitudes, and whether it relates to skin cancer risk. METHODS: A population-based case-control study of 342 SCC cases and 331 age- and gender-matched controls were evaluated for histologic evidence of solar damage and severity of photoaging based on microtopography on a six-grade scale...

Basal cell carcinoma is the most common non-melanoma skin cancer, and its incidence continues to raise. Although surgery can be considered the mainstay of therapy, new current pharmacological options are available and focus on tumor eradication, maximizing cosmetic results, and functional capacity. Several studies have recently reported on safety and efficacy of topical ingenol mebutate gel, a derivative of the plant Euphorbia Peplus, used to treat actinic keratosis and superficial basal cell carcinoma. In our knowledge, we report for the first time the dermoscopic evaluation of outcome and monitoring of superficial pigmented and non-pigmented basal cell carcinomas in four patients treated by this novel non-ablative agent...

Cutaneous exposure to solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a major causative factor in skin carcinogenesis, and improved molecular strategies for efficacious chemoprevention of non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) are urgently needed. Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signaling has been shown to drive skin inflammation, photoimmunosuppression and chemical carcinogenesis. Here we have examined the feasibility of genetic and pharmacological antagonism targeting cutaneous TLR4 for the suppression of UV-induced NF-κB and AP-1 signaling in keratinocytes and mouse skin...

Actinic keratosis (AK) is considered as superficial squamous cell carcinoma. Chronic sun exposure plays a central role in its pathogenesis. In particular, ultraviolet B radiation causes direct damage to the DNA, producing pyrimidine dimers that suppress the protective role of p53. Other risk factors include advanced age, male sex, and fair skin type. Even some drugs used for treating blood hypertension, such as thiazide diuretics, can increase the risk of developing AK. Their photosensitizing action seems to be connected with reactive oxygen species production...

PURPOSE: To evaluate the surgical outcomes of ocular surface reconstruction in corneal-conjunctival tumors using fibrin tissue adhesive. METHODS: A prospective noncomparative study was performed between May 2013 and February 2015. Patients were submitted to routine surgical procedure for corneal-conjunctival tumor excision followed by amniotic membrane graft transplantation using fibrin tissue adhesive (Evicel®, Omrix Biopharmaceuticals Ltd., Israel). Results were assessed on the 1st, 7th, 15th and 30th postoperative days to analyze subjective complaints, adhesiveness and positioning of the graft, potential complications and recurrences...

BACKGROUND: Antiepidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-targeted therapy is widely used in many epithelial cancer types. We investigated lapatinib effects on cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) scheduled for resection and in coexisting precursor lesions (actinic keratosis (AK) and Bowen's disease (BD)) in a phase 2 mode of action clinical trial including a histological workup of the cSCC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We initiated a prospective single-centre, open-label, non-controlled clinical study with translational intentions to investigate changes in size and histopathological features in cSCC after a 14-day period of neoadjuvant lapatinib therapy at a dose of 1500 mg/day prior to surgery, to quantify the impact on AK and BD in the same patient after 56 days and to evaluate the tolerability in patients with cSCC and precursor lesions...

Hyperkeratosis hinders the application of reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) to image squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Not all lesions with SCC show hyperkeratosis, and these lesions can be directly imaged. However, lesions with hyperkeratosis can be treated by debriding the hyperkeratotic surface for further imaging. RCM was used to investigate patients with suspected SCC. Lesions without obvious keratosis underwent direct RCM examinations. Lesions with obvious keratosis were treated by debriding the hyperkeratotic surface...

: Actinic Keratosis' (AKs) are small skin lesions that are related to a prolonged sun-damage, which can develop into invasive squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) when left untreated. Effective, specific and well tolerable therapies to cure AKs are still of great interest. Diclofenac (DCF) is the current gold standard for the local treatment of AKs in terms of costs, effectiveness, side effects and tolerability. In this work, an electrospun polylactic acid (PLA) scaffold loaded with a synthetic DCF prodrug was developed and characterized...

INTRODUCTION: Cutaneous horn of the eyelid is uncommon. The authors evaluate the features of benign, premalignant, and malignant tumors at the base of cutaneous horn of the eyelid. OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical and histopathologic features of cutaneous horn of the eyelid. DESIGN: A retrospective analysis of 13 cases of cutaneous horn of the eyelid treated between 1994 and 2014 was performed. PARTICIPANTS: Thirteen patients participated in this study...

Actinic keratosis (AK) is a chronic skin disease in which multiple clinical and subclinical lesions co-exist across large areas of sun-exposed skin, resulting in field cancerisation. Lesions require treatment because of their potential to transform into invasive squamous cell carcinoma. This article aims to provide office-based dermatologists and general practitioners with simple guidance on AK treatment in daily clinical practice to supplement existing evidence-based guidelines. Novel aspects of the proposed treatment algorithm include differentiating patients according to whether they have isolated scattered lesions, lesions clustered in small areas or large affected fields without reference to specific absolute numbers of lesions...

BACKGROUND: Diagnosing fungal melanonychia (FM) is often difficult because it mimics melanonychia caused by other factors. Dermoscopy is helpful in the setting of nail pigmentation. However, the diagnostic characteristics of FM on dermoscopy are not fully elucidated. OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine the dermoscopic characteristics of FM. METHODS: We evaluated the dermoscopic patterns of FM diagnosed at 2 university hospitals from January 2010 to February 2016...